General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the Niger Republic military junta leader has finally agreed to engage in dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The decision comes after several peaceful overtures were previously ignored.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the breakthrough occurred following a meeting between Tchiani and a delegation of Islamic scholars, led by the national leader of Jama’atul Izalatil Bid’ah Waikamatu Sunnah, in Niger on Saturday.
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The Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine confirmed the positive development, stating that Tchiani was now prepared to engage in dialogue with the regional bloc.
Zeine said:
‘’We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian president what they have heard from us.
“We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”
The meeting took place amidst the backdrop of the Niger junta’s continued detention of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum since the government was toppled on July 26.
Despite facing sanctions and condemnation from ECOWAS and the international community, Tchiani had previously rebuffed all entreaties.
However, the recent engagement with the Islamic scholars seemed to have paved the way for a change in Tchiani’s stance.
Reports held that the ECOWAS leaders, recognizing the urgency to restore constitutional order in Niger, had previously tasked the regional body’s standby force with the responsibility during the second extraordinary summit on the socio-political situation in Niger held on Thursday in Abuja.
